Florida elects its first openly gay lawmakers

At the first meeting of a new state House education subcommittee this month, a dramatic moment in Florida history passed virtually unnoticed.

Rep. Joe Saunders, D-Orlando, saw that as a good sign.

When lawmakers were asked to introduce themselves and provide a little background, some mentioned careers as educators. Others talked of steering their children through public schools.

When it was Saunders' turn, he spoke about having lobbied for anti-bullying legislation, approved in 2008. He added, "My partner is also a high school drama teacher, so that helps in my perspective as well."

Saunders, 29, is one of two openly gay Florida House members elected this year, the first in state history.

In a Legislature where milestones passed in recent years include the election of the first Haitian-American lawmaker, and a Cuban-American House speaker, Saunders and Rep. David Richardson, D-Miami Beach, also see themselves as pioneers.

"You've got to be sitting at the table," Richardson, 55, said of the importance of their election. "This is not my quote, but someone has said, 'If you're not at the table, you're on the menu.'"

With a lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender population estimated at more than 600,000 people, second in size only to California, Florida had been the nation's largest state without any openly gay legislators, according to the Washington, D.C.-based Victory Fund, a political advocacy organization.

With the election of Richardson and Saunders, only 14 states now have no openly gay legislators, said Dennis Dison, a Victory Fund spokesman. More than 100 gay lawmakers hold office, he said. "It is a very big step for Florida."

Richardson and Saunders also take office at what could prove a pivotal time for LGBT Americans. The U.S. Supreme Court has agreed to consider two cases on same-sex marriage.

A far-reaching ruling could cast aside bans on same-sex marriage nationwide, such as that carved by voters into the Florida Constitution in 2008. A split decision might clear the way for federal benefits to go to same-sex couples married in states that allow such unions, but could permit other states to bar gay and lesbian couples from marrying.

"I don't think many people could predict how the landscape for many LGBT issues has changed over the past five years," Dison said.

Richardson, an accountant, was elected in August, winning a Democratic primary over three rivals and facing no Republican opposition.

Saunders defeated a primary opponent and then went on to win over Marco Pena in November, defeating a Republican endorsed by former Gov. Jeb Bush in an Orlando-area district that includes most of the University of Central Florida.

Neither man said their sexual preference was cited directly by their opponents in the campaigns. Each, though, did run with the backing of gay advocacy organizations.

When he was sworn in during the Legislature's November organizational session, Saunders was accompanied by his partner, Donald.

Saunders said the only real dark episode in his campaign occurred when a stealthy telephone poll was conducted in his district. It asked voters, "Would you support Joe Saunders if you knew he was a notorious homosexual activist?" Saunders recalled.

Saunders had been a field director for Equality Florida, a LGBT civil rights organization, which has promoted marriage equality, partnership benefits and anti-discrimination laws in the workplace.

Saunders said that having been to Tallahassee as a lobbyist, he knows the value of having effective representation.

"I think it's going to rock things a little," Saunders said of having openly gay lawmakers at the Capitol. "I don't know what that means from a policy perspective. But at a minimum, I think it's challenging people's assumptions."

John Stemberger, head of the Florida Family Policy Council, spearheaded the voter initiative that put Florida's same-sex marriage ban in the state constitution.

He said the personal lives of Saunders and Richardson are not his concern.

"But the danger would be if they try to promote the homosexual agenda in Florida," Stemberger said.

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